U.S., China trade barbs over military-civil fusion, technology theft

U.S. and Chinese officials this week sparred over Beijing’s intertwining of economic and military goals, with a top State Department official labeling China a national security threat for stealing U.S. intellectual property and technology to advance its military interests.

IP theft and forced technology transfers are at the heart of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative’s Section 301 report on Chinese practices, its justification for tariffs on $320 billion worth of Chinese goods.

“To be sure, acquiring foreign technology...